For now, I am eager to offer tribute to this state because of its amazing geographical terrain, capped by the mountains, and the wonderful relatives I have here.
Before today, I have visited Colorado 8 times. The first time was during my family's great Amtrak vacation in August 1997. Staying in Denver at my Great Uncle Leonard and Aunt Carmen's house on the north side was the final leg of our trip. It was a great time getting acquainted with Colorado's amazing sights and my relatives.
Most of the other times I've been in Colorado, I've spent time in Denver with my family.
Living in a rather flat state of Illinois, I am always stirred by the sight of the mountains. For most of my trips, I've entered Colorado from the East, and I can see the progression of the flat plains of the eastern third of the state rising epically into the Rockies.
I've seen it onboard the California Zephyr train on the approach to Denver. And I've seen it onboard the Southwest Chief train as it curves through the southeast corner of Colorado from Lamar to La Junta to Trinidad.
The Rocky Mountains are certainly scenic. I've spent time in the mountainous areas at Pagosa Springs in the southwest part of the state. Steamboat Springs was also a great scenic spot. I've greatly enjoyed visiting Rocky Mountain National Park three times. And when my family visited in the summer of 2001, we drove up Pike's Peak. It inspired "America, the Beautiful", which is one of my favorite songs. Being up on the mountain, I got to see the same view that Professor Katharine Lee Bates had when she looked out to take a different view of the country and be truly amazed. Despite my altitude sickness that gave me a constant headache, I still embraced being in such a scenic place.
As I picture Colorado's mountains in my mind, I think about how mountains in the Bible are often places of encounters with God, giving new perspectives and new outlooks on life to those who come to them.
One mountaintop experience I had recently was walking into the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver, just blocks from the Colorado State Capitol when I was there in the summer of 2023 when my Great Aunt Carmen turned 90. The brightness of the sanctuary gives me a sense of Heaven. Inside the Cathedral is also the tomb of Servant of God Julia Greeley, a woman who came from Kansas and settled in Denver, devoting her life to service. Now the Archdiocese of Denver is sponsoring her cause for canonization.
Another mountaintop experience that had an enormous effect on the Roman Catholic Church in the USA, and the world, was World Youth Day 1993. It's incredible that Pope St. John Paul II's effort to engage the young people came to Denver. I've heard that in the midst of unsettled times in Denver, WYD helped bring a renewed sense of peace. And it also spawned the launch of many Catholic apostolates. WYD 1993 is commemorated with plaques and a statue of Pope St. John Paul II at the Cathedral.
In a deeply personal way, I am overjoyed to celebrate this historic milestone for Colorado because of my extended family relatives in and around Denver. I always have a good time with them because when they get together, they have great joy being in each other's presence. I feel the family spirit whenever a shirt from Belong Designs, the apparel company that my cousin Mark co-founded. The designs of the shirts embrace the spirit of Colorado and its mountains.
My Great Aunt Carmen's motto was "Party, party, party," and all of her children have kept up that celebration spirit.
So I'm partying today as I say Huzzah, Hurray, and Yee-haw for Colorado at 150!
 |
| A fellow participant photographed me at the festivities at the Colorado State Capitol for Colorado's 150th Anniversary of Statehood, including birthday cake. |
 |
| Here is a Great Colorado scene, looking east on Colfax Boulevard in Denver with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the right and the dome of the Colorado State Capitol on the left, and the Rocky Mountains far in the distance. |
 |
| I was with my Great Aunt Carmen at her longtime home on the north side of Denver on her birthday on July 30, 2023, when she turned 90, in this photo taken likely by my Grandma. |
